ObjectiveTo evaluate the efficacy and safety of Xiaoji Hufei Formula in protecting children with close contact exposure to influenza， and to provide reference and evidence-based support for better clinical prevention and treatment of influenza in children. MethodsA multicenter， prospective， non-randomized， parallel， controlled trial was conducted from October 2021 to May 2022 in five hospitals， including Dongfang Hospital of Beijing University of Chinese Medicine. Confirmed influenza cases and influenza-like illness （ILI） cases were collected， and eligible children with close contact exposure to these cases were recruited in the outpatient clinics. According to whether the enrolled close contacts were willing to take Xiaoji Hufei formula for influenza prevention， they were assigned to the observation group （108 cases） or the control group （108 cases）. Follow-up visits were conducted on days 7 and 14 after enrollment. The primary outcomes were the incidence of ILI and the rate of laboratory-confirmed influenza. Secondary outcomes included traditional Chinese medicine （TCM） symptom score scale for influenza， influenza-related emergency （outpatient） visit rate， influenza hospitalization rate， and time to onset after exposure to influenza cases. ResultsA total of 216 participants were enrolled， with 108 in the observation group and 108 in the control group. Primary outcomes： （1） Incidence of ILI： The incidence was 12.0% （13/108） in the observation group and 23.1% （25/108） in the control group， with the observation group showing a significantly lower incidence （χ²=4.6， P<0.05）. （2） Influenza confirmation rate： 3.7% （4/108） in the observation group and 4.6% （5/108） in the control group， with no statistically significant difference. Secondary outcomes： （1） TCM symptom score scale： after onset， nasal congestion and runny nose scores differed significantly between the two groups （P<0.05）， while other symptoms such as fever， sore throat， and cough showed no significant differences. （2） Influenza-related emergency （outpatient） visit rate： 84.6% （11 cases） in the observation group and 96.0% （24 cases） in the control group， with no significant difference. （3） Time to onset after exposure： The median onset time after exposure to index patients was 7 days in the observation group and 4 days in the control group， with a statistically significant difference （P<0.05）. ConclusionIn previously healthy children exposed to infectious influenza cases under unprotected conditions， Xiaoji Hufei formula prophylaxis significantly reduced the incidence of ILI. Xiaoji Hufei Formula can be recommended as a specific preventive prescription for influenza in children.

ObjectiveTo evaluate the efficacy and safety of Xiaoji Hufei Formula in protecting children with close contact exposure to influenza， and to provide reference and evidence-based support for better clinical prevention and treatment of influenza in children. MethodsA multicenter， prospective， non-randomized， parallel， controlled trial was conducted from October 2021 to May 2022 in five hospitals， including Dongfang Hospital of Beijing University of Chinese Medicine. Confirmed influenza cases and influenza-like illness （ILI） cases were collected， and eligible children with close contact exposure to these cases were recruited in the outpatient clinics. According to whether the enrolled close contacts were willing to take Xiaoji Hufei formula for influenza prevention， they were assigned to the observation group （108 cases） or the control group （108 cases）. Follow-up visits were conducted on days 7 and 14 after enrollment. The primary outcomes were the incidence of ILI and the rate of laboratory-confirmed influenza. Secondary outcomes included traditional Chinese medicine （TCM） symptom score scale for influenza， influenza-related emergency （outpatient） visit rate， influenza hospitalization rate， and time to onset after exposure to influenza cases. ResultsA total of 216 participants were enrolled， with 108 in the observation group and 108 in the control group. Primary outcomes： （1） Incidence of ILI： The incidence was 12.0% （13/108） in the observation group and 23.1% （25/108） in the control group， with the observation group showing a significantly lower incidence （χ²=4.6， P<0.05）. （2） Influenza confirmation rate： 3.7% （4/108） in the observation group and 4.6% （5/108） in the control group， with no statistically significant difference. Secondary outcomes： （1） TCM symptom score scale： after onset， nasal congestion and runny nose scores differed significantly between the two groups （P<0.05）， while other symptoms such as fever， sore throat， and cough showed no significant differences. （2） Influenza-related emergency （outpatient） visit rate： 84.6% （11 cases） in the observation group and 96.0% （24 cases） in the control group， with no significant difference. （3） Time to onset after exposure： The median onset time after exposure to index patients was 7 days in the observation group and 4 days in the control group， with a statistically significant difference （P<0.05）. ConclusionIn previously healthy children exposed to infectious influenza cases under unprotected conditions， Xiaoji Hufei formula prophylaxis significantly reduced the incidence of ILI. Xiaoji Hufei Formula can be recommended as a specific preventive prescription for influenza in children.

Objective: To uncover the underlying mechanisms of action of the Yinlai decoction on high-calorie diet-induced pneumonia through proteomics analysis. Methods: Based on the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database, lung tissue samples from normal and high-fat diet (HFD) fed mice in the GSE16377 dataset were selected as test cohorts to identify differentially expressed genes and conduct bioinformatics analyses. In the animal experiments, mice were randomly divided into the control (N), high-calorie diet pneumonia (M), and Yinlai decoction treatment (Y) groups. Mice in the M group received high-calorie feed and a 0.5 mg/mL lipopolysaccharide solution spray for 30 min for 3 d. The mice in the Y group were intragastrically administered 2 mL/10 g Yinlai decoction twice daily for 3 d. Pathological evaluation of the lung tissue was performed. Differentially expressed proteins (DEPs) in the lung tissue were identified using quantitative proteomics and bioinformatics analyses. The drug-target relationships between Yinlai decoction and core DEPs in the lung tissue were verified using AutoDock Vina and Molecular Graphics Laboratory (MGL) Tools. DEPs were verified by western blot. Results: GEO data mining showed that an HFD altered oxidative phosphorylation in mouse lung tissue. The Yinlai decoction alleviated pathological damage to lung tissue and pneumonia in mice that were fed a high-calorie diet. A total of 47 DEPs were identified between the Y and M groups. Enrichment analysis revealed their association with energy metabolism pathways such as the tricarboxylic acid cycle (TCA) and oxidative phosphorylation. The protein-protein interaction network revealed that Atp5a1, Pdha1, and Sdha were the target proteins mediating the therapeutic effects of Yinlai decoction. Molecular docking results suggested that the mechanism of the therapeutic effect of Yinlai decoction involves the binding of brassinolide, praeruptorin B, chrysoeriol, and other components in Yinlai decoction to Atp5a1. Conclusion The Yinlai decoction alleviated lung tissue damage and pneumonia in mice that were fed a high-calorie diet by regulating the TCA and oxidative phosphorylation. Our study highlights the importance of a healthy diet for patients with pneumonia and provides a scientific basis for the prevention and treatment of pneumonia through dietary adjustments.

Objective To identify factors associated with gastrointestinal heat retention in preschool children,and to provide a foundational understanding for future clinical investigations. Methods A case-control study was performed,which involved children from kindergartens in the Longgang District of Shenzhen City,Guangdong Province,from May to July 2021. Using the Children's Gastrointestinal Heat Retention Diagnostic Self-assessment Scale,subjects were allocated into a case group (children diagnosed with gastrointestinal heat retention) and a control group (children without this condition). An online survey was used to collect data on dietary behaviors,caregivers' feeding behaviors,early antibiotic use,daily routines,and birth conditions. SPSS 27.0 software was used to facilitate precise sociodemographic matching and paired logistic regression analysis to explore the association between gastrointestinal heat retention and the above factors. Results From the analysis of 51,252 matched cases,the study found that several factors contributed to an increased risk of gastrointestinal heat retention. These factors included reduced food intake compared to peers,reports of picky eating by caregivers,distractions during meals,pronounced dietary preferences,disinterest in food,meal durations ≥ 25 min,reluctance to sample new foods,consistent refusal of specific food types for over one month,irregular meal locations,coercive feeding practices,use of micronutrient supplements,allowing children too much freedom in food choice,persuading children to eat,infrequent encouragement to experiment with new foods,early antibiotic introduction,inadequate sleep,and premature birth (P<0.05). In contrast,exclusive breastfeeding in the first six months,engagement in moderate to massive physical activity,and regular napping patterns were associated with a reduced risk of gastrointestinal heat retention (P<0.05). Conclusion The suboptimal dietary habits,improper feeding practices,insufficient physical activity,inadequate sleep,and premature antibiotic exposure may be significant risk factors for gastrointestinal heat retention. Future research dedicated to unraveling the cause of gastrointestinal heat retention should prioritize these elements.

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) with high pathogenicity and infectiousness has become a sudden and lethal pandemic worldwide. Currently, there is no accepted specific drug for COVID-19 treatment. Therefore, it is extremely urgent to clarify the pathogenic mechanism and develop effective therapies for patients with COVID-19. According to several reliable reports from China, traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), especially for three Chinese patent medicines and three Chinese medicine formulas, has been demonstrated to effectively alleviate the symptoms of COVID-19 either used alone or in combination with Western medicines. In this review, we systematically summarized and analyzed the pathogenesis of COVID-19, the detailed clinical practice, active ingredients investigation, network pharmacology prediction and underlying mechanism verification of three Chinese patent medicines and three Chinese medicine formulas in the COVID-19 combat. Additionally, we summarized some promising and high-frequency drugs of these prescriptions and discussed their regulatory mechanism, which provides guidance for the development of new drugs against COVID-19. Collectively, by addressing critical challenges, for example, unclear targets and complicated active ingredients of these medicines and formulas, we believe that TCM will represent promising and efficient strategies for curing COVID-19 and related pandemics.

Objective:Gastrointestinal heat retention syndrome (GHRS) is associated with lung-heat syndrome and is related to recurrent respiratory infection.Upper respiratory tract infection (URTI) lung heat syndrome is common in children.The study will explore the effect of GHRS on the structure and function of gut microbiota in children with URTI lung-heat syndrome.Methods:Participants were divided into both groups using the self-developed URTI scale and the "GHRS Diagnostic Scale · Pediatric Part":GHRS-positive children (LS group) and GHRS-negative children (L group).General information,clinical symptoms,and stool were collected.We used 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing technology to determine the gene sequence of the V3-V4 region in feces and measure the gut microbiota of the both groups at the genus level.Results:A total of 23 children were included in the both groups.There were 12 cases in the LS group and 11 cases in the L group.There was no statistical difference between the both groups in age,gender,height,weight,and body mass index.The effective sequences shared by the both groups accounted for 85.66％ of the total.In the gut microbiota,there was no difference in the α diversity and the β diversity between the both groups.Compared with the L group,the LS group had a significant increase in the relative abundance of the Rurninococcus gnavus group,Prevotella-9,Staphylococcus,and Actinomyces(P ＜.05).The functions of the both groups of microbiota primarily concentrate on metabolism,genetic information processing,and environmental information processing.The relative abundance of signaling molecules and interactions in the LS group were higher than that in the L group (P ＜.05).The redun-dancy analysis (RDA) showed that the URTI score had the greatest impact on the distribution of microbiota.Conclusion:GHRS may affect the development of URTI lung-heat syndrome by changing the relative abundances of gut microbiota.

Objective:To explore the structural and functional characteristics of microbiota in oropharynx of sub-healthy children with gastrointestinal heat retention syndrome(GHRS)differentiated by traditional Chinese medicine,and screen the biometric operational taxonomic units(OTUs)to assist the clinical diagnosis.Methods:We recruited children according to the"GHRS diagnostic scale",collected their oropharyngeal swabs,and sequenced the 16S rDNA V4 region.We described the bacterial structure with alpha-indexes,beta-distances,and relative abundances;moreover,we screened the differential genera/OTUs with Wilcoxon rank-sum test,MetagenomeSeq analysis,and linear discriminant analysis effect size(LEfSe)analysis,in which biometric OTUs were selected to construct the receiver operating characteristic curve to verify the diagnostic value.The bacterial function was predicted with Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathways according to 16S rDNA gene by using Phylogenetic Investigation of Communities by Reconstruction of Unobserved States.Results:The study population was composed of 10 children with GHRS and 10 healthy control children.GHRS children were more likely to overeat(gluttony,P=.033).Alpha-indexes,such as Sobs,abundance-based coverage estimator,Bootstrap,and Qstat,were significantly higher in the GHRS group,while beta-distances did not exhibit any significant intergroup differences.There were 9 differently distributed non-predominant genera between the groups in Wilcoxon rank-sum test,as well as 13 non-predominant genera in MetagenomeSeq analysis and 3 non-predominant OTUs in LEfSe analysis.OTU44 and OTU196 were used to construct the receiver operating characteristic curve,and the area under curve was 0.92.Predicted functions showed that pathways related to oxidative phosphorylation and carbon metabolism were enriched in healthy control samples,while the pathway related to renin secretion was remarkably enriched in GHRS samples.Conclusion:Unique oropharyngeal microbial structure and function were identified in GHRS children.OTU44 and OTU196 were specific OTUs,which could be used as biomarkers of GHRS to assist clinical diagnosis.

Objective: To search for specific metabolites in the lungs of pneumonia rats fed with a high-calorie diet, as well as explore the changes in the lung metabolites of young rats treated with Yinlai Decoction (YD) and its effects on inflammation-related metabolic pathways.Methods: Lipopolysaccharides (LPS) and a special high-calorie diet were used to induce Sprague Dawley (SD) rats to simulate the intestinal state of infant pneumonia. Liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry technology (LC-MS/MS) was used to detect metabolites in each group. Supervised orthogonal partial least squares discriminant analysis (OPLS-DA) model values were used for the detection results to find the differential metabolites. The metabolic pathways that are involved with the differential metabolites were clarified through enrichment analysis and topological analysis. Finally, the T cell receptor signaling pathway (TCR) signal conversion was analyzed by the network pharmacology method. Results: In the high-calorie diet combined with pneumonia group (M3), a total of 55 metabolites were determined to be different from the normal group (N). A total of 36 metabolites were determined to be different from those in the lung metabolites of the YD treatment group (T1). YD had a regulatory effect on glutathione metabolism, arginine and proline metabolism, ascorbic acid and aldehyde metabolism and phenylalanine metabolism. And the small molecule metabolites could act on the FYN and lymphocyte-specific protein tyrosine kinase (LCK) target proteins in the TCR signaling pathway, thereby affecting the immune function of the lungs. Conclusion: A high-calorie diet can cause abnormal sphingolipid metabolism in the lungs of young rats, thereby creating chronic lung inflammation in young rats. YD has a beneficial effect when used to treat young rats with LPS-induced pneumonia fed on high-calorie diets. Its mechanisms of action may affect the body's immune pathways by regulating the oxidative stress pathway affected by glutathione metabolism.

Objective: To explore the relationship between gastrointestinal heat retention syndrome and the inci-dence of pneumonia and recurrent respiratory tract infections (RRTIs) in children. Methods: A prospective cohort study was conducted in the pediatric outpatient department of Beijing Dongfang Hospital. Children without respiratory tract infections (RTIs) were consecutively recruited according to the selection criteria. A semi-structured questionnaire was used to record traditional Chi-nese medicine (TCM) symptoms and demographic and physiological characteristics. Gastrointestinal heat retention syndrome was considered to be a predisposing factor and was diagnosed according to a scale with reliability and validity. The participants were followed up for 12 months. Participants and their parents or guardians were contacted via clinical interviews and telephone every 6 months. Episodes of pneumonia and RTIs were recorded in detail. Results: A total of 420 children were included. Of participants, 370 (88.10％) were followed up for 12 months. The mean number of RTI episodes per participant was 5.37 (95％ CI: 5.14 to 5.60). In total, 186 participants in the gastrointestinal heat retention syndrome group and 184 participants in the non-gastrointestinal heat retention syndrome group completed the 12-month follow-up period. The base-line of both groups was comparable. The incidence of RRTIs in children with gastrointestinal heat retention syndrome was 1.27 (95％ CI: 1.01 to 1.59) times that in children without gastrointestinal heat retention syndrome. Logistic regression analysis revealed that abnormally increased appetite with frequent hunger, foul breath, dry stools, and dark red or purple fingerprints were positively correlated with the incidence of pneumonia. Irascibility and feverish feelings in the palms and soles were positively correlated with the occurrence of RRTI. Conclusions: Gastrointestinal heat retention syndrome is a risk factor for RRTIs in children. Studies with larger sample sizes and longer follow-up time are warranted to confirm the degree of causal risk associated with RTIs.

Objective By analyzing the epidemic characteristics and related indicators of SARS (2003) and COVID-19(2020), to explore the reasons for the similarities and differences of the two epidemics, so as to provide reference for epidemic prevention and control. Methods The general situation, clinical classification, activity history, contact history, family members’ contact and incidence of the two infectious diseases in Guangzhou were collected and used to analyze the time characteristics, occupational characteristics, age characteristics and other key indicators of the two diseases, including the number of cases, composition ratio (%), mean, median, crude mortality, etc. Results A total of 1 072 cases of SARS (2003) were included in the study. 353 of which were severe cases with the incidence of 30.13%. 43 cases of death were reported with a mortality rate of 4.01%. The average age was 46 years old, and 26.31% of the cases were medical staff. The interval time between first report to continuous zero reports was 129 days. As to COVID-19 (2020), a total of 346 cases were included. 58 of which were severe cases with the incidence of 16.67%. One case of death was reported with a mortality rate of 0.29%. The average age was 38 years old, and no hospital infection among medical staff was reported. The interval time between first report to continuous zero reports was 35 days. Conclusions The prevention and control strategies for COVID-19 (2010) are more effective compared to that of SARS (2003), and the emergency response procedures are worth to be evaluated and summarized.